Directing the City Manager to develop recommendations for a transit priority policy that provides guidance for the provision of various types of transit priority treatments on city streets; directing the City Manager to collaborate with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and engage relevant City boards and commissions and stakeholder groups in the development of recommendations for a transit priority policy; and directing the City Manager to include a funding request in the next fiscal year budget to make fixed route public transportation fare free within the City.

Directing the City Manager to
develop recommendations for a transit priority policy that provides guidance
for the provision of various types of transit priority treatments on city
streets; directing the City Manager to collaborate with the Kansas City Area
Transportation Authority and engage relevant City boards and commissions and
stakeholder groups in the development of recommendations for a transit priority
policy; directing the City Manager to include
a funding request in the next fiscal year budget to make fixed route public
transportation fare free within the City; and directing the City Manager to
report to the Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee the fiscal
impact of this funding request to other existing City services, contracts, or
programs included in the City’s Five Year Financial Plan.

WHEREAS, public
transportation is an efficient and environmentally-friendly form of
transportation; and

WHEREAS, the
voters of Kansas City approved in 2003 and renewed in 2008, a 3/8-cent sales
tax dedicated to public transportation, and the State of Missouri has
authorized and eliminated the sunset for a 1/2-cent sales tax dedicated to
public transportation; and

WHEREAS, the
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce has selected "Transportation"
as one of their Big 5 Initiatives with a focus on increasing the amount of the
region's jobs accessible by public transportation within 90 minutes; and

WHEREAS, Kansas
City diverts a significant portion of the Public Mass Transportation Fund for
purposes that do not include the operation of or direct investment in public
transportation; and

WHEREAS, Kansas
City has implemented Transit Signal Priority on a limited basis for Main and
Troost MAX bus rapid transit systems outside of greater downtown, and for the
KC Streetcar within greater downtown; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED
BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That
the operation of our public streets shall prioritize the efficiency, safety,
and access for public transportation users.

Section 2. That
the Council directs the City Manager to develop recommendations for a transit
priority policy that will provide guidance for the provision of various types
of transit priority treatments on city streets. The recommendations should,
without limitation, include the following:

●Potential
goals and metrics for transit priority, including improved safety, increased
person-carrying capacity of existing streets, efficiency and reliability of
transit service, equity, and public health;

●Potential
criteria and conditions to identify corridors for which transit priority should
be considered;

●A
list of best practice transit priority treatments and guidance for their use
including, without limitation:

○traffic signal priority;

○queue jumps;

○signal synchronization;

○in-lane transit stops;

○dedicated transit lanes;

○pedestrian signal automation;

●A
timeline for implementation of best practice transit priority treatments with
special emphasis on treatments that can be quickly implemented at low or
no-cost;

●A
process for how the community shall be informed and engaged when application of
transit priority treatment is proposed or implemented.

●Alignment
with existing plans and policies, including without limitation:

○FOCUS and Area Plans;

○Transit Oriented Development Policy;

○Complete Streets Policy;

○Walkability Plan;

○Major Streets Plan;

○MARC SmartMoves;

Section 3. That
the Council directs the City Manager to include a funding request in the next
fiscal year budget to make fixed route public transportation fare free within
the City.

Section 4. That
the Council directs the City Manager, no later than 30 days before submission
of the annual budget to the Council by the City Manager, to appear before the
Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee and present the City Manager’s
findings as to the fiscal impact of that funding request described in Section 3
on existing services, contracts, or programs in conformance with the adopted
Five Year Financial Plan.

Section 5. That
the Council directs the City Manager to collaborate with the Kansas City Area
Transportation Authority and engage relevant city boards and commissions and
stakeholder groups in the development of recommendations for a transit priority
policy. The City Manager is directed to provide a final report on such
recommendations to the Council within 60 days of the passage of this
Resolution.